of chicago



May 7 6. s. HERSHEY AUTOMOBILHLOCK Original Filed Jan. 5. 192! 2 Sheets-She's! l INI/ENTOR.

y arm/116.2 parsley 2 ATTO$ May 3,1927.

M a 3 e .w m.

0 uo'liej seamed May 3, 1927.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ORVILLE S. HERSHEY, OF CHICAGO, IL I IINOIS, AQS IGNOR TO HERSHEY MANUFAUTUB- COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01 COLORADO.

aurononmn Locx.

I 1 Original No. 1,442,765, dated January 16, 1823, Serial No. 484,455, filed January 8, 1921. Application 2 reissue filed December .27,

, This invention relates to improvements in automobile locks, more particularly to locks of the type used in connection with the steering column of a motor driven vehicle to fasten the shaft extending therethrough against rotation.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a lock of simple, practical and efficient construction which may be conin tained within a housing that surrounds the drawings in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a housing containing the present lock, the structure being shown as mounted upon the dash or instrument board of anautomo bile; i 1

Fig; 2 is a transverse section therethrough taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is a vertical section therethrough taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a 'det'ail'in longitudinal section showing a modified form of operating lever for the locking bolt; and I Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on line 55 of Fig. .4.

The lock shown. in the drawing is contained withina housing A that -may be mounted upon the instrument board B of an automobile so as to co-operate with the steering shaft C, herein represented as a tube that is surrounded by an outer sleeve D, usually termed the column. The housing is suitably formed to provide a recess 20 for the accommodation of a spring 21 which presses against a bolt 22 whose act-- ing end is preferably sloted as at23 to receive'the eccentric 240i a shaft 25. The slot end is provided with a fiat wall 26, as shown, and the eccentric is also of generally triangular shape in cross section so as to 1926. Serial 110,157,880. f

present either of two flat surfaces. 27 and 5b 28 to the end wall of the slot, as will'more particularly be explained hereinafter.

As appears best in Fig. 2,the shaft is jour- Y naled wlthln avcylindrical opening 29 and extends to the exterior of the housing'to conmeet with an operating lever 30. By the means described the lever serves to rotate the'shaft which throughthe medium of its eccentric 24 acts to depress the bolt 22 aga nst the tension of the spring 21 for, the purposes that will be presently pointed out. The usual automobile steering construction includes 'a tubulanshaft which is arranged within a tubular column of larger diameter, an annular space intervening between these parts. The purposes of-this invention are served most practically by fastening to the steering shaft C a'keeper in the form of a collar 31 which is provided with a longitudinal slot 32 adapted to receive the acting end 'ofthe locking bolt 22. When the parts are related in this manner, the steering shaft islocked against rotation. It is obvious that the use of this collar merely facilitates the adaptation of the present look. to the auto 30 mobile steering mechanism, but that v thesame locking action would result if the slot 32 were formed directly in the steering shaft or mm C rather than in the collar which is made fast thereto. Accordingly in the de-' 86 scription and claims to follow the slot 32 will be treated as formed in the shaft, as, in fact it is to all practical intents and purposes. Associated withthe lock mechanism is a 00 device that operates a switch ,to break or ground the ignition circuit so as to'render the engine inoperative. For this purpose I. have provided in the shaft25 at a point which is preferably diametrically opposite 05 the lever 30 asocket 33 which is adapted to 1 partially receive a ball 34 (see Fig. 3) which is slidingly arranged within a bore 35' wherein is also locateda pin 36 whose acting end may project rearwardly of. the housing A. As a convenient form of switch which. is adapted to be opened through the medium of the ball and pin, there-is shown a spring arm 37 min ted to overlap a contactplate 38, circuit wires 39 and 40 leading to :the arm and I05 plate respectively. A convenient manner of assembling the switch in operative relation with the lock is tomountthe two contact 25 key-controlled loc 'ner end an eccentric disk 47 which is adaptparts upon an, insulating base .41 which is adapted to be received within a recess upon the rearside of the housingA so as to lie flush therewith. 'The plate 38 which lies proximate to the pin 36 maybe slotted as at 42 to rmit the infind to project therethrough to move t e s ring arm. 37 to thereby break or ground t e circuit. The-igni- (ion switch just described isoperated by the '10 same lever 30 which controls the steering lock. When the shaft 25 is rotated from the osition of'Fig. 3, the .ball 34 will be ejected rom the socket 33, thus pushing the pin 36 rearwardly to force the spring arm 37 away l from the contact plate 38, thereby breaking.

or groundingthe ignition circuit; I prefer to use a ball and'pin as the connecting medium between the shaft 25 and switch, but

obviously a single element interposed therebetween, if made of the desired length and shape, would answer the requirements of this invention.

The housing is further provided with a cylindrical openin 45 in which is received a 46 that" carries at its ined to be moved toward andfrom the shaft as the lock is rotated through the medium of a proper key. This eccentric disk cooperates with the shaft 25 to prevent rotation thereof, and for this purpose I have formed in the shaft a plurality of slits 48, 49 and (see Fig. 3), thepreferred number 0 such slits being three. With the lever 30 arranged diametrically opposite the socket 33, the normal operating relation of the parts, hereinafter termed the first position, would be as indicated in Fig. 3, the lever'being then raised 'to present the slit 50 so as to receive the disk 47. I When the-key lock is turned to lace the disk within this slit, as shown in i 3, the parts may not be moved except t rough the medium of the proper key, and in this position the shaft and eccentric 45 24 is held in the position necessary to effect retraction of the locking bolt 22 from the steering shaft. In this position also the ignition switch is closed, so that the engine may be free] operated.

- If it IS desired merely to lock the igni- 4 tion-switch but not the steering apparatus,

then the :lever 30 is turned sufliciently to permit the disk #17 to enter the slit 4 9, the key lock being first rotated, of course, .to allow of such'chan e in the rotary position of the shaft 25. -what will be termed second position, the ball 34 will be ejected from the socket 33, so as to open the circuit switch to thereby break 9 on ground the ignition circuit. In such circumstanoesit will be impossible to operate the engine, althouh the steering apparatus maybe freely use [To lock both the ignition switch and steering, the lever is turned downwardly to a third position, as shown in en-the shaft is so turned, to

wall within the chamber.

Fig. 2, permittin the eccentric disk 47 to then enterthe eccentric 24 wi have been moved tov a point which allows the locking bolt 22 to advance into the slot 32 of the steering shaft when-j turned for this 48. In this position, the

means, viz; the handle 30. This serves to operate the ignition switch either alone or conjointly with the steering lock, the operative movements therefor being transmitted through successively actini slip connections of whlch one is constituted rock shaft "25' and the other by the eccentric face 28 and-bolt slot end 26.

, By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that in cross sectional View the two sides 27 and 28 of the eccentric 24 are in effect chords y the ball 34 and with res ect to the periphery of the shaft 25, the ormer' lying approximately in the plane of its diameter, and that these two sides meet in'acute angular relation to form an edge 51 which may be more or less blunt.

When both the steering and igtnitio n switch are locked' by turning the sha to the third position, the diametnc side 27 of the eccentric will be gage with the steering shaft. To bring the shaft into second position so. astolock only the ignition switch, the lcver30 must be turned through about ,fthereby presentpresented to theslot end 26, thereby permitting the locking bolt to en ing the edge 51 to the slot en d 26in adead center relation. In the first position where I no locking action obtains, the side 28 of the eccentric is presented to the slot end 26, but as this side represents but a, short chord the locking bolt Wlll be held sufficiently retracted to remain disengaged from thelsteering shaft.

From the preceding description it will. be noted, therefore, that in the second position the eccentric occupies a. neutral or dead center relation to the bolt such that it influence of the spring 21. D Y I .In Figs. 4 and 5 I have represented :1

operating the lockingbolt. Where the parts correspond to the construction elsewhere shown, like reference numerals have been applied, the locking bolt, being'designated as 22, its slot a523, the shaft as 25, the

eccentric thereon as 24, etc. The shaft, hdwever, is hollowed-to provide a chamber 60 in which is slidably mounted a collar 61 having in one'end openings 62 for the re ception 'of pins 63 that project from the end lar 61, is astem 64, a suggestive means of '1 l0 tends, whenever free, to turn to either of the other positions and. there remain under the .modified construction of shaft and lever for J Mounted in this I proper key (not shown), the lock bein rotatably anchoring .the stem being a set screw which enters the shaft transversely to present its endwithinan annular groove 66 that is formed in the stem near its inner end. The opposite stem end extends through the hub (37 of an operating lever 68, the hub. being formed preferably" with cylindrical walls which overlie the proximate end of the shaft. At its outer end the stem is formed with a head (39 which looks the lever fast theieto, and iutermediately of the collar and a shoulder 7() formed adjacent the lever hub isa compression spring 71 which is coiled around the stem. key 72 is-used to lock the collar non-rotatably to the stem so-that when the collar is pressed toward the pins 62-} under the influence of the spring 71 the lever will be clutched to the shaft 25 so as to operate the same.

It will be understood that the locking bolt 22 and the shaft 25 may be mounted within a housing constiucted substantially the same as the one illustrated in Figs; 1, 2 and 3. Rotatably mounted within the housing isa key-controlled lock 7:3 adapted to be ro-i tated through the instrumentality of a provided near its rear end with a. laterally extending disk 74 which is adapted to move within a slit 75 in the shaft 25 preliminary to abutting the clutching end of the collar 7 61 to thereby shift the collar longitudinally away fiom the, pins 63. so as to disestablish connection with the shaft. \Vhen the lock' '73 is turned through the instrumentality of the proper key to withdraw the disk 74 from en agement with the collar, the latter will again clutch with the shaft due to pressure from the spring .71, so'that the lever 68 may be used to operate the shaft to there-- by move the locking bolt. In this construction seveial slits 75 are preferably employed,

the number depending upon the different positionsdesired for the shaft 25.

I claim: r V

1.1a a. device-of the kind described, a housing adapted for mounting upon the column surrounding an automobile steering shaft, means within the housing ada'pted'to lock the shaft against rotation, said locking means comprisingia bolt arranged within the housing movable toward and from the steering shaft, there being means on. the shaft with whichthe acting end of the bolt may co-operate .to lock the 'shaft'against movement, a rock shaft operatively related to the locking bolt, and an eccentrlc on the rock shaft freely engaging the locking bolt to shift the posltion thereof relative ,to the" steering shaft, and key-controlled means within the housing having operative relation to the rock shaft and adapted to preventrotation thereof when the same is in a predetermined position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the kind described, a

housing adapted for mounting upon the colmun surroundin an automobile steering shaft, and means within the housing for locking the shaftagainst rotation includin abolt spring pressed toward the shaft an adapted to engage therewith, there being an i open slot in the bolt, and a lock shaft having its axis transverse to the plane of movement of the bolt and provided with an eccentric entering the slot thereof, the eccentric being in the form of two angularly related flat sides such that one of them is normally faced against the slot end under the spring action imparted to the bolt, described.

substantially as 3. In a device of .the kind described. a

housing adapted for mounting upon the 1 column surrounding an automobile steering shaft, and means within the housing for,

locking the shaft against rotation comprising a bolt, tension means urging the bolt toward the shaft, there being an open slot' in the bolt end adjacent the shaft. and a rock shaft having a cam thereon disposed within the bolt slot and freely removable therefrom, the rock shaft being adapted to "retract the bolt from engaging relation with the steering shaft, substantially as described.

.4. In a device of the kind described, a

steering lock, an ignition switch, and a singrle control means working through sncces- T sively acting slip connections adapted to operate either the' latter alone or both to gether, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a rotatable shaft, a lock therefor including a housing stir rounding the shaft, a bolt slidable toward and from-the shaft and adapted whenengaged therewith to lock the same'against rotationycontrol means for the bolt, an electrical switch mounted upon the exterior of the housing, and a connection thr ugh the housing from the control means tothe electrical switch such that the latter may be operated independently of the bolt, substantially as described. I

6. In combination with a rotatable shaft, a lock therefor including a housing sub rounding the shaft, a bolt slidable toward and from the shaft! and adapted when engaged therewith'to lockthe same against r0- tation,*an electrical switch carried by the housing upon the exterior thereof, and a single control means extendin through the housing and in connectionwit 1 the bolt and switch and adapted to operate either the latter alone or both together, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a rotatable shaft,

a lock therefor including a housing surrounding the shaft, abolt slidable toward and from the shaft and adapted when engaged therewith to lock the same against rotation, spring means urging the b0 t toward the shaft, control means for the bolt dis- &

posed transversely thereof and movable through a limited distance independently of stantially as described.

the bolt, an electrical switch having amember movable to open and closed positions, and a connection from the control means to the switch member such that the latter is moved to an open position of rest Withinitial movement of the control means, sub- 8. In combination with a rotatable shaft,

a lock therefor including a bolt \which is engageable therewith to lock the same against rotation, an electrical switch includ ing a member'which is movable to open and closed positions, and control means for the bolt having an operative connection with the switch member such that the latter is moved to an open position of rest upon initial operation of the control stantially as described. 4 9. In a device, of the kind described, a steering lock, operating means, therefor, an

' ignition switch, and means including a cam connection between the operating means and the ignition switch permittin the latter to be operated independently o lock, substantially as described.

10. .In combination with a rotatable shaft, a lock therefor including a bolt slidable toward and from the shaft and. adapted when engaged therewith to lock the same against rotation, spring means urging the bolt toward the shaft, an electrical switch including reciprocable operating means therefor, and a common control means for the bolt and switch operating means and exteriorly of. t

means, subthe steering adapted to move the switchthron h a limited distance to an open position 0 rest preliminary to advance of the bolt to locking position, substantially as described.

11, In combination with a rotatable shaft, a lock therefor including a bolt which'is slidable toward and from the shaft and adapted when engaged therewith to lock the .same against rotatlon, an electrical switch movable contacts mounted having relatively e housing; control means within the housing in connection with the bolt, and a reci rocable connection from the control means t rough the housing to a movable switch contact upon the exterior thereof and adapted to movesaid contact through a limited distance to open the switch 'in advance of movement by the bolt, the bolt being thereafter movable to locking positiongwhile the switch member remainsstationary, substantially as described. w

12. In combination with a rotatable shaft, a lock therefor including'a bolt engageable with the shaft to prevent rotation thereof, an electrical switch, a common control means therefor, and connections from the control means to the switch and bolt adapted, with operation of the control means through an initial stage, to transmit a full movement to the switch, the bolt remaining disengaged from the shaft until the control means is moved through a succeeding stage during which theswitch remains stationary, substantially as described.

ORVIL-LE s. HERSHEY, 

